asked. the Under-Secretary of State for India under what conditions was Mr. Subhas Chandra Bose, a detenu in Bengal, permitted to leave India; and how has he been permitted to visit Ireland?

As my hon. Friend will be aware, Mr. Bose was permitted to leave India in order to receive particular medical treatment. The territorial validity of his passport was framed accordingly. The question of his admission to the Irish Free State is one for the Free State authorities.

Does the hon. Member think that any harm will come from Mr. Bose's visit to Ireland?

Can the Under-Secretary say whether he obtained medical treatment in Dublin?

I am not aware of what he did in Dublin?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the unsatisfactory state of recruitment of British candidates for the Indian Civil Service in 1935, as reported by the Civil Service Commission, he proposes to take any action to restore the proportion of British to Indian recruits to the 50–50 ratio fixed in 1924?

Yes, Sir. My Noble Friend hopes to be in a position very shortly to make an announcement of the measures to be taken to restore the 50–50 ratio as soon as Part III of the Government of India Act, 1935, comes into force. If present expectations are fulfilled, it should be possible to make a beginning in 1937.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will bring up to date the numbers of British and Indian members, respectively, in the All-India Services, as compared with the last published Return which showed the composition of those services on 1st January, 1933?

I am circulating a statement showing the composition of the All-India Services on 1st January, 1935. Figures for 1st January, 1936, are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what has become of the special reserve fund which the Chinese Government set up for the purpose of paying in monthly instalments to meet the arrears due to the bondholders in the Tientsin-Pukow Railway; and whether payments into this fund are still being made?

I understand that the special reserve fund has been used for the service of the original and supplementary loan issues. So far payments have been made on coupons which were eleven years in arrear. Payments continue to be made into the fund, but in December last were 20 months behind the agreed schedule.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether His Majesty's Government or the League accept the position that any country unwilling to co-operate, or judged an aggressor, should indefinitely remain a member of the League without being subject to any penalty for default;

(2) whether any proposals have yet been under consideration to remove from the League those nations which are not prepared to keep the peace of the League or to co-operate in its preservation?

The point raised by the right hon. and gallant Gentleman is covered by Article 16 (4) of the Covenant, which provides that any member of the League which has violated any Covenant of the League may be declared to be no longer a member of the League by a vote of the Council concurred in by the representatives of all the other members of the League represented thereon.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that three British trawlers, "Esquimaux," "Arkwright," and "Bunsen" have been molested by Norwegian gun-boats on the high seas outside of the red line; and whether, in view of the agreement come to between His Majesty's Government and the Norwegian Government, His Majesty's Government propose to take steps either to secure enforcement of the agreement or, alternatively, to afford protection to British vessels on the high seas?

I have seen copies of the statements by the skippers of these three trawlers in which they complained that Norwegian gun-boats have interfered with their fishery operations outside the "red line," which is the provisional limit observed in practice by British trawlers and by the Norwegian authorities since 1925. His Majesty's Minister at Oslo has been instructed to ask for information from the Norwegian Government regarding these incidents and to add that if the "red line" were not to be adhered to, a new situation would arise rendering it difficult to continue the negotiations at present in progress for a general settlement of the whole controversy.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether fishery cruisers are working in those waters?

I cannot say without notice.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he will make a statement with regard to the situation on the Manchukuo-Mongolian Frontier;

(2) whether he has any information regarding the incident on 12th February, when Japanese-Manchukuo troops were bombed at Olohodoka, in the territory of the Mongolian People's Republic?

There have during the past year been a number of skirmishes between small bodies of Mongol and Japanese-Manchurian troops along the border between Manchuria and Outer Mongolia. The details of the particular incidents referred to are still obscure, but I understand that neither the Soviet Government nor the Japanese Government are disposed to attach any undue importance to it, and that proposals have been put forward with the object of reducing the risk of further similar incidents.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Mongolian People's Republic is part of the Republic of China that has been stolen by the Soviet?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will publish as a White Paper the Report of the Inter-departmental Committee presided over by Sir John Maffey on the question of an Italian occupation of Abyssinia; on what date this report was presented; and whether its conclusions have been accepted by His Majesty's Government as the basis of their policy?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been directed to the publication in the "Giornale d'Italia" of a document purporting to be a report to his Department on British interests in Abyssinia from a committee of which Sir John Maffey, Permanent Under-Secretary to the Colonies, was chairman; whether he has caused any inquiries to be instituted as to the means whereby the newspaper in question obtained a copy of this confidential report; and with what result?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the publication in an Italian newspaper of a confidential document on Abyssinia, prepared by Sir John Maffey and presented to the Foreign Office in June last; and whether this document represents the views of His Majesty's Government?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to publish as a White Paper the document relating to Abyssinia which has been published in an Italian newspaper?

asked the Prime Minister how the Maffey Report came to be supplied to the Italian Government or the Vatican?

The House will be aware that through an indiscretion, or a deliberate breach of confidence which every effort is being made to trace, a confidential document, the property of His Majesty's Government, has apparently come into the possession of an Italian newspaper. The leakage of information of this character must naturally be a matter of serious concern to the Government and every effort is being, and will be, made to determine the cause. I deprecate, however, any suggestion that the document is in itself, and particularly at this date, of an especially secret character, the disclosure of which can be a source either of any great embarrassment to His Majesty's Government, or of any danger to the interests of the country. Still less is there any justification for the suggestion which has, I understand, been put forward in Italian newspapers that its contents are such as to establish either the variability or the insincerity of the policy followed by His Majesty's Government in the Italo-Ethiopian dispute.

I will tell the House precisely how the report embodied in the document originated. Towards the end of January, 1935, when the Abyssinian situation was already a cause of pre-occupation to His Majesty's Government as a member of the Council of the League, an inquiry was made by the Italian Government as to the nature and extent of British interests in Abyssinia. An inter-Departmental Committee was thereupon set up, under the chairmanship of the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, for the purpose of estimating British interests in Abyssinia and of attempting an appreciation of the extent to which these interests might be affected by external events. I must make it clear that it was in no sense the task of this Committee to deal with His Majesty's Government's obligations under the Covenant or to attempt to frame a policy for His Majesty's Government in what had by that time come to be the possibility of serious trouble between Italy and Abyssinia. Had it been otherwise, the Committee would have been differently constituted. It was merely concerned to establish facts.

The Committee's investigation naturally occupied some time, and in the ultimate event no specific reply was returned to the Italian inquiry, owing to the fact that by the time the examination was completed the rapid development of Italian activities in regard to Abyssinia was beginning to raise the whole question of the integrity of Abyssinia, as to which any personal interests were naturally subordinated to our obligations as a member of the League. The Committee reported to my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on 18th June last and its report was to the effect that there was no important British interest in Abyssinia with the exception of Lake Tsana, the waters of the Blue Nile, and certain tribal grazing rights. This, I may say ot once, is precisely the consideration which has underlain every authoritative statement of the policy of His Majesty's Government in the Italo-Ethiopian dispute. That policy has been inspired by no selfish or ulterior motive, but solely by consideration of the duties incumbent on His Majesty's Government as a member of the League of Nations and as whole-hearted supporters of the doctrine of collective security.

After a full review of all these circumstances I have come to the conclusion that no useful purpose would be served by publishing this document as a White Paper.

May I ask whether any steps are being taken to check these leakages, of which this is not the first within recent months, and a continuation of which will undoubtedly lead to very serious consequences? Can we have an assurance that what happened in Paris in the case of the right hon. Gentleman's predecessor and what has happened in this case will really come to an end?

I quite agree with the hon. Member that the leakage of any secret British document must be a matter of grave concern, and I know that the House will not expect me to state what steps the Government propose to take. At the same time I think we must distinguish between the theft or disappearance of a British document and the leakage in Paris, over which His Majesty's Government have no control.

If we did away with secret diplomacy, we should have none of this trouble.

Can the Foreign Secretary give us the personnel of this Committee? He has given us only the name of the Chairman.

This was a Civil Service inquiry, and I do not think that the House would wish me to go beyond the answer I have given.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the publication in the "Giornale d'Italia" of confidential reports on British interests in Abyssinia, presented to the Foreign Office last June by an Inter-departmental Committee presided over by the Permanent Under-Secretary at the Colonial Office; whether he can inform the House as to how this confidential document came into the possession of an Italian newspaper; whether the Press leakages, which occurred during the recent Hoare-Laval negotiations, have yet been traced; and what steps are being taken by the Government to stop similar leakages in future?

As regards the first and second parts of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I have just given to the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Dalton). As regards the third part, I understand that the leakage in question took place in Paris. As regards the last part, any precautions which may be considered necessary will be taken in addition to those which are already in force.

May I ask whether the recent document which appeared in the Italian Press was printed or not? Was it a letter sent to various people or a typewritten document sent by a confidential secretary?

Does the hon. Member mean, whether the document was printed for our use?

Yes, whether it was printed or not?

It was printed.

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered a, possible leakage in this way? I do not ask him to give me a definite reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can assure the House that British economic and political interests in Abyssinia are still restricted to those centred on the waters of Lake Tsana and the Blue Nile?

Yes, Sir, with the exception of frontier interests, notably the protection and preservation of tribal watering and grazing rights.

Do these "interests" include the construction of a motor road under British control between Lake Tsana and the Sudan?

I must have notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the Committee of Eighteen is to meet at Geneva to consider the report relating to an oil embargo?

On 2nd March.

Will the right hon. Gentleman move the committee at the earliest moment to invite the co-operation of the United States of America?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in view of the fact that the terms of the secret Rome accord between France and Italy have been known to the Government since January, 1935, he will make them known to the House?

It would not be proper for me to publish the information in my possession in regard to the terms of an agreement between foreign powers which they have not seen fit to publish themselves.

Is the right hon. Gentleman making any representations to the French Government that the terms of this accord conflict with their engagements with the League of Nations?

I did not say that I had the terms of the accord, but that I had information in my possession with regard to them.

Does not that information show that the French Government were acting contrary to their obligations to the League of Nations, and, if so, did the Government make any representations to that effect?

I must decline to answer for any other Government but my own.

May I ask whether any engagement between two Powers who are members of the League is binding unless it is published?

Should not this engagement be registered with the League of Nations?

That question should be addressed to the French Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the practice of his Department to ascertain at what school recruits to the staff of the Department were educated; and, if so, which are the first four schools, according to the numbers recruited, from which additions to the staff have been made in the last four years?

Information regarding the schools at which candidates for the administrative class of the Civil Service (including recruits to the Foreign Office and Diplomatic and Consular Services) have been educated is furnished to the Civil Service Commission by the candidates. As regards the Foreign Office and Diplomatic and Consular Services, the particulars desired by the hon. Member are as follow:

1. Eton

2. Rugby.

3. Winchester.

4. Marlborough and Repton.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the Foreign Office might improve the intellectual standard of its staff if it were to extend its recruitment over a wider area than these rather exclusive educational establishments?

The recruitment is over the widest area. The question is who gets into the net.

Is not the basis of recruitment the particular colour of the tie worn?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Carmelo Psaila and Robert Ghirlando, British subjects, have been imprisoned in Tripoli since December and January last, respectively, it being stated against them that they had uttered remarks insolent to Italy; whether he is aware that the Italian authorities have declared their intention of bringing them before a military tribunal; and whether His Majesty's Government have taken any steps to secure for these men a fair and open trial without delay?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. His Majesty's Ambassador at Rome is investigating the facts, and I have asked him to hasten his report with a view to deciding whether action should be taken by His Majesty's Government.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that British subjects in Tripoli are undergoing something like persecution solely on account of their nationality? Has he considered suggesting to the Italian Government that our nationals should get the same courtesy and consideration that the Italians receive here?

I am waiting for the report of the Ambassador.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when these two gentlemen became British subjects?

How long does the right hon. Gentleman think that we can afford to wait without some information while these men are in prison—not, I trust, for more than a month?

A very much shorter time, I hope.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can give any further information relative to the British trade fair at Hong Kong; to what extent His Majesty's Government are now assisting it; and to what extent it is supported by British manufacturers?

I have been asked to reply. I am informed that the organisers of the British trade fair to be held in Hong Kong in December next have formed an influential committee in this country and that negotiations are proceeding between the organisers and prospective United Kingdom exhibitors. As regards the attitude of His Majesty's Government, the Governor of Hong Kong has accepted the position of Patron, and His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton and the Commercial Secretary for South China (who is also Trade Commissioner, Hong Kong), have been authorised to accept honorary positions as members of the council of the fair.

Are the Government going to support it financially?

That is another question.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department to what extent and in what way His Majesty's Government is supporting the exhibition to be held at Johannesburg this year?

The Department of Overseas Trade is organising on behalf of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom a prestige exhibit for display in a national pavilion to be erected in the exhibition grounds. The Department is also supplying to United Kingdom manufacturers who contemplate participation, full information and advice regarding the South African market. The closest co-operation exists between the Department and the Federation of British Industries and the exhibition executive committee in Johannesburg.

Will the hon. Member see that a similar prestige exhibit is arranged for the exhibition in Hong Kong?

asked the Prime Minister whether the House will be given an opportunity to discuss the question of the renewal or modification of the AngloArgentine trade agreement before negotiations are opened for this purpose?

As has already been stated, the question of the future of the agreement referred to by my hon. Friend is under consideration. I fear I can give no undertaking that the Government will be able to afford a special opportunity for discussion.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not consider it right that the House of Commons should have an opportunity of discussing and reviewing the very far-reaching effects of this agreement upon home production and Empire trade, before renewing it for another period of years?

I think it will be obvious that my answer refers to discussion before negotiation. Discussion before negotiation, I think, would probably have a disastrous effect in any case of this kind. After negotiations, it is always open to the House, if it so desires, to discuss the matter, but it is not the usual practice to have such discussion before the negotiations have been entered upon.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that discussion after the negotiations is not very much use?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, between 1933 and 1935, the imports of eggs from Poland into Great Britain have increased by no less than 40,000,000; and whether he will have the trade treaty with Poland denounced in order that this matter may be rectified?

I am aware of the figures to which my hon. Friend refers. The agreement with Poland cannot be terminated until 31st December, 1936. The point raised by my hon. Friend will be borne in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will furnish information as to the number of applications made by industries in this country under the provisions of the Ottawa Agreements Act to the tariff boards in Canada, Australia and New Zealand; and what have been the results of those applications?

As the answer is necessarily long and contains tables and figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Have any of these applications met with success?

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what is the estimated value of the increase of trade as a result of the recent agreement to the United Kingdom and the Irish Free State, respectively?

It would not be practicable to give a detailed estimate of the value of increased trade likely to result from the recent arrangement with the Irish Free State, but there is every reason to hope that the value to the trade between the two countries will be substantial.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a member of the Irish Free State Government announced that, in his view, the trade of the Free State would increase by £750,000 a year, while in the case of this country the increase would be nil, and does he think that an accurate forecast?

I do not agree that it is an accurate forecast at all.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make a statement as to the attitude of the League authorities towards the manner in which tile National Socialist Government in the free city of Danzig is carrying out the undertakings given on its behalf at the last council meeting at Geneva?

I an: not in a position to make any such statement. The League of Nations is represented at Danzig by a resident High Commissioner whose duty it is to report to the council on any matter to which he considers that its attention should be drawn. He can be relied upon to keep careful watch on the matter to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of instances of common lands and manorial wastes to which, between 1st August, 1931, and 31st December, 1935, the public have been granted rights of air and exercise under the Law of Property Act, 1925, and the total acreage of such commons and manorial wastes?

The number of common lands and manorial wastes, to which public rights of access for air and exercise have been granted during the period indicated, is 30; and the total acreage of such lands is 91,030 acres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the report of the Select Committee on Commons, 1913; and whether, in view of the need for legislation on many points affecting common land, he will be able to introduce a Bill implementing the recommendations of that committee next Session?

I am aware of the report of the committee referred to, but I am not at present in a position to say whether time can be found next Session for the passage of a Bill implementing the recommendations of the committee.

Will the right hon. Gentleman sympathetically consider this question when he is considering his programme for next year?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the date on which the last reliable survey of the commons and manorial wastes of England and Wales was made; and whether he will consider legislation requiring county and county borough councils to make such a survey and requiring them to see that no further illegal enclosures take place?

A return presented to the House of Commons in 1874 gave particulars of waste lands subject to rights of common and of common field lands in England and Wales, so far as could be ascertained from documents in the Office of the Inclosure and Tithe Commissioners, supplemented by estimates. In 1916 the Commons and. Footpaths Preservation Society prepared an estimate of the acreage of commons which was based on the return of 1874 and amounted to approximately 1,750,000 acres. An exhaustive survey such as the hon. Member would appear to contemplate defining the precise bounds of all common lands would be both complicated and lengthy and I regret that I cannot at present promise legislation on the lines suggested.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has considered the recommendations of the committee which he appointed to consider the present unsatisfactory position of the National Mark Egg scheme; and what action he proposes to take in order to deal with that position?

I presume my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to an informal committee of the National Mark Egg and Poultry Trade Advisory Committee and National Mark Egg Central, Limited, which was constituted in November last. This committee has not yet presented its final report and, until it has done so, I am unable to forecast what action, if any, may be required.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps have been taken by the Bacon Marketing Board since its inception to increase the export trade in British bacon products?

Owing to the conditions obtaining in overseas markets since the Bacon Marketing Scheme came into operation, the board have not been able to increase the export trade in British bacon.

Will the right hon. Gentleman confine his attention to supplying enough bacon for the home market at reasonable prices?

We are concentrating on that at present.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to recent outbreaks in this country of eelworm disease in potatoes; and what provision has been made for research into the question of whether a cheap and practical method can be evolved for overcoming this pest?

I am aware of the increasing prevalence of eelworm in potatoes, and substantial additional grants have, after consultation with the Agricultural Research Council, been made to the Institute of Agricultural Parasitology for the purpose of extending and expediting research work on the pest, the object being to devise practical measures of control.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, judging from a test made in Lincoln in regard to the production of potatoes, this disease is largely due to the use of artificial manure?

asked the Minister of Agriculture on what grounds the Report of the Royal Commission on Tithe, which has till now been withheld from the House of Commons, has been communicated to the Archbishop of Canterbury and other individuals?

The grounds are that consultations have been necessary with the object of elucidating certain matters arising from the Report for the convenience of all concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in order to relieve the occupiers of cottage property from assessment in respect of land drainage rates, he will consider introducing a Bill which will enable a land drainage board by resolution to assess and levy drainage rates on the owners of all hereditaments, other than agricultural land, in a land drainage district, or any part thereof, where the gross Schedule A assessment does not exceed £35?

As I informed my hon. Friend on 4th February, I do not see any possibility of further land drainage legislation being introduced this Session. I have, however, noted his suggestion.

That reply is hardly good enough. Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that something will have to be done to remedy this, and that there is in my question a suggestion which would provide him with a way out of his difficulties?

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the present position as to the importation of oats from the Dominion of Canada; and whether this position is accepted as satisfactory to oat growers in the United Kingdom?

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, is at present in communication with the Canadian Government in regard to the importation of oats from Canada into the United Kingdom during the current cereal year, and pending a reply from the Canadian Government I am not in a position to make a statement on the matter.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that the importation of oats from Canada last year was greater than ever before, and was that in accordance with existing treaties with the Canadian Government?

My hon. Friend will realise that while the matter is under discussion it would be unwise for me to express any opinion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has yet received the report of the Committee of Investigation with regard to the contract prices for milk for 1935–36; and whether it is proposed to make the report available to Members of the House of Commons?

The Report of the Committee of Investigation referred to has not yet been received. It has been the practice to publish findings but not reports of the Committee of Investigation, and I am not in a position to say at this stage to what extent, if any, this practice will be varied in this instance.

In view of the importance of this matter, would the right hon. Gentleman give his consideration to the whole question?

I will keep an open mind on the subject.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any arrangements are being made for the exhibition of British livestock in the agricultural section of the Levant Fair at Tel Aviv to be held in May next?

No official arrangements are being made for the exhibition of British livestock at the Levant Fair.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that very much livestock is imported into Palestine, and will he make representations to agriculture interests in this country as to the desirability of advertising the advantage of British livestock?

I am grateful to the hon. Member for the attention which he has drawn to the matter, and I hope British agricultural interests will see their way to take some such action.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the first delivery of letters in Mecklenburgh Square, W.C.1, takes place about 8.25 a.m.; and if the reorganisation now in progress in the West Central district will result in expediting this delivery at an early date?

Delivery in Mecklenburgh Square normally commences at about 8.10 and finishes at 8.30 a.m. These times will be maintained under the reorganisation, and I am afraid that it would not be practicable to improve upon them.

Is it not a. fact that certain other districts, such as Hampstead, have a very much earlier delivery, at about 7.45?

I cannot answer that without notice, but we have tried to improve the position in the district to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will restore the postal address of His Majesty's Ship "Ganges" to Harwich, so that this naval training ship may be associated with the name and place which for so long has been connected with the Royal Navy?

The change in the postal address of His Majesty's Ship "Ganges" was made at the request of the captain-in-charge. The effect has been to afford some improvement in the postal service to the training ship and there seems to be no justification for altering the arrangements.

asked the Postmaster-General whether in view of the note of warning issued by the Stock Exchange in their report on fixed trusts and the fact that these trusts are at present the subject of an inquiry instituted by the President of the Board of Trade, he will discontinue the insertion in the books of stamps sold by the Post Office of advertisements of the National Fixed Investment Trust, Limited?

Advertisements in the books of stamps sold by the Post Office are subject to certain contractual arrangements, which can, if necessary, be reviewed when the result of the inquiry instituted by the President of the Board of Trade is known. At, present, however, there seems to be no sufficient reason for discontinuing the insertion of the advertisements referred to.

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that the horse will be well away before the stable door is closed?

I do not know which animal is referred to, but I should have thought it would be better to await the results of the inquiry before doing anything.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he proposes to put telephone subscribers on a basis of equality with users of call boxes by making no charge for the call when a telegram is sent through the telephone?

The object of waving the call office fee in the case of telegrams dictated from call offices is by treating such offices virtually as Post Offices, to facilitate the handing in of telegrams by the general public at all hours of the day and night. Telephone subscribers have the advantage over call office users of being saved the inconvenience of having to visit a Post Office or call office to hand in their telegrams. To waive the penny fee in their case would involve a heavy loss of revenue which I do not feel justified in incurring at present.

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consider that call offices should be subsidized at the expense of ordinary subscribers?

Call offices are not subsidized. It is a great advantage to be able to send a telegram from one's house without going out-of-doors.

asked the First Commissioner of Works what arrangements are made for the disposal of stone removed from the Houses of Parliament in connection with the restoration work now in progress?

Large stone suitable for rock gardens is being disposed of in large or small quantities at 10s. a ton, and smaller stone at 5s. a ton, purchasers to pay, or provide for, cartage. Ornamental pieces suitable for sundials, garden ornaments, etc., are available at various fixed prices. The stone available may be seen on application to the Superintendent of Works (Mr. Holman) at the Houses of Parliament.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how much has been realised so far from the sale of the stone?

Many hundreds of pounds. Many hon. Members have already bought it.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether his attention has been drawn to the bad acoustic properties of the House of Commons, and the difficulties experienced by Members sitting on the back benches in hearing the speeches of Ministers; will he consider having installed in the House microphones and loud speakers to remedy this; and what would be the cost of this installation?

I do not consider that the acoustics of this Chamber are unsatisfactory, and I know of no system of microphones and loud speakers which would be suitable for installation in this House, where it is the practice for hon. Members to speak from different places.

Will the Minister consider introducing the same system in this House—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speak up."]—as that which is installed in another place?

No, for the reason I have already given. The reason why the system referred to works in another place is, I gather, because the microphones are on the Table there, but as hon. Members in this House speak from many different parts of the House, it would not be practicable.

Although my right hon. Friend can be heard everywhere in the House when he replies at Question Time, would it not be desirable to have some installation of the kind mentioned, in the Press Gallery, so that the answers given by some other Ministers might be heard in the Press Gallery?

I remember Mr. Speaker once saying that anybody who was worth hearing could be heard in this House.

asked the First Commissioner of Works what percentage of the electric lamps in the Houses of Parliament are of the gas filled type; and how long will it be before this type entirely supersedes the less efficient types still largely in use?

About 75 per cent. of the electric lamps in the Houses of Parliament are of the gas-filled type: I am not in a position to forecast the date by which this type only will be in general use, as substitution of gas-filled lamps where available takes place as the old types wear out.

Would it not be economic to replace all the old-fashioned lamps forthwith by new ones which only use half the energy; and is it not the case that in this respect at present this House is worse equipped than many private houses in the country?

AS I have said, 75 per cent. have already been converted and I am converting all the time. There are still some of the old lamps not actually in the House but in places where bright illumination is not needed. I have no doubt that those remaining old lamps will be replaced in due course.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, in, view of the widespread interest throughout the Empire and the world generally in the Budget speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he will consult with the Government departments concerned and other necessary authorities for the purpose of seeing whether arrangements can be made so that the delivery of this speech may be broadcast?

I have consulted the authorities concerned who remain of the opinion, which they believe to be shared by the House generally, that it is undesirable that the proceedings of Parliament should be broadcast. It has been the practice in recent years for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to give a broadcast on the Budget in the evening after the Budget speech.

asked the Prime Minister what steps, if any, have been taken to ratify his pledge of last May that there shall be no profiteering in the armaments industry; and whether he is satisfied that the present share speculation and inflation does not violate the terms of his pledge?

I would refer the hon. Member to statements made by my Noble and right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air in June and July last, of which I am sending him copies, as to the steps taken to secure that excessive profits are not made in regard to orders placed in connection with the expansion of the Royal Air Force; and to the reply which I gave on Thursday last to the hon. and gallant Member for Nuneaton (Lieut.-Commander Fletcher) when I said that appropriate steps would be taken to ensure that excessive profits are not made in the orders which will be placed to make good deficiencies in the Defence Forces. As regards the second part of the question, His Majesty's Government are determined to give effect to the undertaking that excessive profits are not made on armament contracts; but they cannot accept any responsibility for the movements of share prices on the Stock Exchange.

Has the Prime Minister no concern whatever with this gross public scandal; and will he not take the appropriate means of putting an end to this gambling, by bringing the important industry of armament-making under public ownership and control?

Is it not a fact that the rise in the price of shares makes absolutely no difference to the cost of production?

When the right hon. Gentleman makes reference to "appropriate measures" what does he mean?

The measures that have been taken, so far, in the limited expansion which has been made, I believe to be satisfactory. The House will have the opportunity, on the pertinent Estimates, of debating that matter. We have, as the House is aware—and they will be told more details presently—a very great problem, in which we desire the co-operation of the whole House, in expansion, that will. have to be met in the next four or five years and, as we go on to meet those conditions, one of our greatest problems will be to consider whether such measures as we have taken hitherto Rill be sufficient. If we think they are not sufficient, we shall certainly suggest others.

May I press the Prime Minister? Will he take no steps whatever to meet this grave public scandal?

Will the right hon. Gentleman take care, in order to retain public confidence, not to give way to pressure to put in charge of this kind of work, industrial magnates who have profited much in the past from subsidies of the Government?

Is it not a fact that armament and aviation firms are to-day not making profits out of the arms and areoplanes which they are supplying to our own country, but out of those which they are making for other people?

asked the Prime Minister whether the insertion of a costings clause in armament supply contracts is the sole safeguard contemplated by the Government against excessive profits?

No, Sir.

Is the Prime Minister in a position, in order to allay public anxiety, to specify what other measures will be taken?

No, Sir. I think I am not prepared at this moment to amplify the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. Bevan) a few minutes ago, and I would say, with great respect, to the hon. Member, in the words of one of his former leaders, that he should "wait and see."

May I ask the Prime Minister, since it has been proved already that in this so-called tension, huge profits have been made by swindling or any other term you care to give it—

Order.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the large expenditure proposed to be spent on modernising and improving our defensive forces, he will consider giving some special inducements to manufacturers to start works in certain of the distressed areas in Lancashire which, although in a depressed condition, are not included in the scheduled areas under the present Special Areas Act?

I have been asked to reply. It is already the practice in placing Government contracts to give a preference, other things being equal, to firms in the scheduled depressed areas, which include large parts of Lancashire. The Government is unable, on grounds of general policy, to accept the suggestion that a special inducement, other than that conferred by the preference above referred to, should be given to manufacturers to start works in any particular district of Lancashire.

Do I understand from the answer that the areas outside those scheduled in the Act, which I have mentioned in the question, are not to get any benefit from this at all?

No, the hon. and gallant Member is not entitled to draw that deduction. The policy is, other things being equal, to give a preference to firms in the depressed areas including those in Lancashire. The answer means what it says.

And is the meaning of it that the areas to which I refer are not to be included?

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to introduce legislation during the present Session for the reform of the House of Lords?

No, Sir.

asked the Prime Minister whether confidential information regarding the international position is now being given to the Leader of the Opposition, as has been done in previous Parliaments, in periods of tension?

No, Sir, but my hon. Friend's suggestion will be borne in mind.

Does not the Prime Minister think that it is employing unnecessarily alarmist language to use the term "a period of tension"; and may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he thinks that there is a period of tension now?

Perhaps the hon. Member would address his question to my questioner.

asked the Prime Minister who takes the decision whether or not a given newspaper article by a Cabinet Minister infringes the Cabinet rule; and at what date or epoch, or by what other criterion, a subject passes from the permitted historical to the forbidden political sphere?

The answer to the first part of the question is that in this, as in other matters, individual Ministers must be judges of their own conduct. If they are in any doubt, they are always able to consult the Prime Minister of the day or their colleagues. In reply to the second part of the question, I can only say that each case must obviously be decided on its merits.

asked the hon. Member for Central Leeds as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, whether the interest which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have in the management of the Paddington Estate Trust amounts to a controlling interest; and whether the Ecclesiastical Commissioners' consent is necessary before any change or redevolopment can take place in the property under the control of the Paddington Estate Trust?

The position in this estate is that, while the Ecclesiastical Commissioners are entitled to a share, generally one-third, of the income, the management is in the hands of a trust. The basis of the relationship between the two bodies is that the Commissioners are he freeholders, the trust holding a lease for the residue of 2,000 years.

The Commissioners have power to require that they shall join with the trust in the grant of any sublease or tenancy, but this power cannot be regarded as entitling them to claim more than protection of their present financial interests or of the value of their reversion in some 1,900 years' time.

Am I right in thinking that the Ecclesiastical Commissioners cannot establish any control over any changes which may take place in the property?

That is so. They can in no way control changes unless they were manifestly to the financial disadvantage of the Commissioners.

Does the hon. Gentleman consider that it is in the interest of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners that they should derive profits, or at least an income, from a trading estate over which they have so little control?

The position is admittedly not wholly satisfactory. It is one from which the Commissioners can only escape by Act of Parliament, failing voluntary agreement. They have on more than one occasion attempted to obtain physical division of the property whereby they would acquire absolute control of their own share, but that has not yet been possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total tonnage of new shipping constructed during 1935 and the tonnage for 1934?

I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement showing the tonnage of merchant vessels of 100 tons gross and over launched during 1934 and 1935 respectively and the tonnage under construction at 31st December in each of those two years.

Following is the statement:

Tonnage launched:

According to the returns of Lloyd's Register of Shipping, the tonnage of merchant vessels of 100 tons gross and upwards launched in the world during 1934 and 1935 was 967,419 tons gross and 1,302,080 tons gross respectively.

The corresponding figures for Great Britain and Ireland were 459,877 tons gross in 1934 and 499,011 tons gross in 1935.

These figures include all vessels launched, whether they were completed during the year or not.

Tonnage under construction:

There were under construction in the world on the 31st December, 1935, 1,543,153 tons gross of merchant vessels of 100 tons gross or upwards, of which 743,086 tons gross were under construction in Great Britain and Ireland.

The corresponding figures for 1934 were 1,251,722 tons gross in the world and 596,834 tons gross in Great Britain and Ireland.

These returns of vessels under construction include all vessels not completed whether they had been launched or not.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can tell the House how much land still remains in Palestine owned by the Arabs; and what proportion of this land is held, respectively, by owner-occupiers, by landlords, or on some communal system?

I am consulting the High Commissioner for Palestine on the points raised by my hon. and gallant Friend, and I will communicate with him in due course.